Plans for Museum of the West unveiled in Scottsdale

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SCOTTSDALE, AZ - After nearly 25 years of planning and preparation Scottsdale city officials are unveiling their design plans for the Scottsdale Museum of the West.

Plans call for the museum to be built near the intersection of Marshall Way and 2nd Street in Old Downtown Scottsdale. Right next to the now empty Loloma Transit Station.

Bill Peifer is project manager for the 13 million dollar project. He says the museum will be around 40,000 square feet, and divided into five distinct sections.

Each section will focus on a different western theme; Heritage, Expansion, Transformation, Interpretation, and Inspiration.

"The idea is it will be story telling displaying the five western themes," said Peifer.

Along with other city officials, Peifer is unveiling the plans for public comment at two city meeting Thursday. At the meeting local residents can view the designs and give feedback based on what they like and don't like.

Peifer says one goal of the museum is for it to be designed in such a way that it compliments nearby businesses and art galleries.

"I think that we've created a space that's really going to accommodate good exhibits and while the architecture is attractive, it won't detract from the exhibits that are inside the museum," said Peifer.

The two public meetings will be held at the Scottsdale Artist's School, Studio 2, 3720 N. Marshall Way. Presentations are set for 11:30 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.

Peifer says that all reasonable requests for changes will be considered.

So far the 13.6 million dollar project is on schedule and even a little under budget.

Copyright 2013 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.